Phyllis
Three decades of experience in Public Power. Now applied independently, one client at a time.
Biography
Phyllis Currie is a prominent figure in the public power industry, with deep expertise in utility operations, financial planning, and the regulatory environments that shape the energy sector. She served for 14 years as General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), the utility that provides electricity to Pasadena and surrounding unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
During her tenure, she oversaw the addition of new electric generation units and brought in NASA-funded infrastructure to help clean up groundwater contamination. She developed water and energy resource plans with aggressive renewable energy and conservation goals, and led multi-year programs to upgrade the city's water and electrical distribution systems.
Before Pasadena, Ms. Currie spent 30 years with the City of Los Angeles — as Chief Financial Officer for the LA Department of Water and Power, as Assistant City Administrative Officer overseeing the city's annual operating and capital budgets, and as director of the LA rent control program.
She has chaired the boards of the American Public Power Association and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). She has also led the California Municipal Utilities Association and the Southern California Public Power Authority.
She has also served on the boards of the Electric Power Research Institute, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the California Debt Advisory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Energy's Electricity Advisory Committee.
Today, Phyllis serves as an executive consultant, providing strategic planning, advisory services and training service to utilities across California and beyond.
Career Journey
Chief Financial Officer of the LA Department of Water and Power, Assistant City Administrative Officer over the city's operating and capital budgets, and director of the LA rent control program.
2001–2015. Added new electric generation, built a NASA-funded water treatment plant, and led multi-year water and electric system upgrades.
Chair of APPA and MISO; president of CMUA and the Southern California Public Power Authority; board service with EPRI, the MSRB, the California Debt Advisory Commission, and the DOE Electricity Advisory Committee.
Executive consultant to utilities. MISO board member 2016–2024 (chair, 2019–2021); Grid Alternatives national board, 2019–2025 (president). Served on for-profit and privately held boards. Now on Mainspring Energy's Strategic Advisory Board.
BA in Political Science and an MBA from UCLA; Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, Harvard Kennedy School.
Board & Advisory Roles
What she brings
Fourteen years running a public utility — generation, infrastructure, and system-wide resource planning.
Service as CFO of LADWP and years overseeing municipal operating and capital budgets.
Board chair of APPA and MISO, with service on EPRI, the MSRB, and the DOE Electricity Advisory Committee.
Applying that experience directly — advising electric and water agencies as an executive consultant.
In the Media